Tolland Boy Earns Rank Of Eagle Scout

FAMILIAR FACES

March 08, 1999

Brian J. Robinson of Boy Scout Troop 2 in Tolland was recently honored at a court of honor for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank a boy can earn in Boy Scouting. To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, a boy must progress through the ranks of scouting, be active in his troop, show Scout spirit and serve the troop in a leadership position.

He must also earn 21 merit badges (12 of which are required for the rank of Eagle) and plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project that is helpful to his community, school or religious institution.

Brian has earned 59 of the 119 merit badges offered by the Scouts, and has served as senior patrol leader for his troop. He is an assistant senior patrol leader.

Brian's service project was done at the newly built town tennis courts. He built a sign identifying the location of the courts, complete with landscaping. He also built six benches for inside the tennis courts.

Brian is the son of Jeffrey and Paula Robinson of Tolland. *

The following artists were winners at the February meeting of the Manchester Art Association,and their work will be displayed as indicated. First: Pat White, pastel, ``Dancing Shadows,'' at Mary Cheney Library, 586 Main St.; second: Barbara Russell, photograph, ``Rural Vista,'' at First Federal Savings Bank, 344 W. Middle Turnpike; third: Ronnie Klukas, watercolor, ``Impression Poppies,'' at Savings Bank of Manchester, 923 Main St.

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Gabrielle Derrig, daughter of William and Leslie Derrig of South Windsor, has been presented the 1999 Spirit Award by Connecticut Voices for Children.

She is being recognized for her participation in and contribution to the Connecticut Forum Student Organization, a group of Greater Hartford students from 25 private and public schools who meet monthly to advance the cause of diversity awareness.

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Jodie Quaglia of Manchester has been named to the dean's list at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., for grades earned during the fall 1998 semester. She is majoring in sociology and anticipates receiving a bachelor's degree in May 2001.

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Rick DeNicolo Jr., son of Richard and Ellie DeNicolo of Bolton, has been named to the dean's list at Clemson University, School of Engineering and Science, for the fall 1998 semester. He is a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering.

Adam Buchbinder, son of Dr. Irving and Brenda Buchbinder of Willimantic, has been selected as a candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program.

The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of our nations' most distinguished graduating seniors.

Adam is active in many of the high school band and chorus progrms and is vice president of the National Honor Society. He is also working toward the rank of Eagle Scout.

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Children's book author and local educator Barbara Shaw McKinney will speak on ``Reading to Learn Science -- Learning to Read Science'' March 27 at the annual convention of the National Science Teacher's Association in Boston.

She will use her book, ``A Drop Around the World,'' to show teachers how to integrate science and language arts. The book tells in rhyming verse about a single raindrop's travels and the different states the drop took based on climate conditions.

McKinney lives in Manchester and teaches at Goodwin School in East Hartford. She has a second book coming out this spring called ``Pass the Energy, Please,'' which describes food chains in rhyming verse.